More on Monument Park...

by Dusty Writes

August 25, 2026

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I agree with Paul Semendinger that the Yankees should have more players in Monument Park. The Yankees have no consistent standards in determining who gets to be in Monument Park. It seems as though only the more "modern" Yankees players are getting into Monument Park, largely due to the Yankees financially benefitting by having players get into Monument Park that current fans can relate to. Many, if not most fans don't know about the great Yankees players and their contributions such as Lefty Gomez, for example.

It is amazing that Gomez, who played for the Yankees from 1930-1942, a Hall of Fame pitcher, does not have his number 11 retired by the Yankees. How does a player who is in the Hall of Fame not have his number retired by his team?

Gomez won 20 or more games 4 times, led the league twice in wins with 26 wins in 1934 and 21 wins in 1937. He won two ERA titles and led the league in winning percentage twice. he led the league in ERA+ twice.

Gomez, a 7-time all- star, won 189 games and lost only 101, as a Yankee, for a fantastic .652 winning percentage, a much better win percentage than most pitchers in the Hall of Fame.

Gomez had a great career 125 ERA+ and was one of the greatest clutch pitchers in history, winning 6 World Series games without a loss, with a 2.86 ERA in 7 starts. Gomez was a major contributor to 6 world championship teams, and one of the greatest dynasties in MLB history, winning the World Series in 1932, 1936-1939, 1941. He also pitched for the pennant-winning 1942 Yankees.

Graig Nettles, played for the Yankees from 1973-1983. He led the league in homers with 32 in 1976. He was a 5-time all-star in his Yankees career. He won 2 Gold Gloves as a Yankees 3rd basemen.

Some believe Nettles should have won more than 2 Gold Gloves but voters gave it annually to Brooks Robinson based on reputation, even when Brooks' defensive skills were declining. He was a big contributor to 2 world championships, 4 pennants and 5 divisional titles in his Yankees career. He was the 1981 ALCS MVP 

Nettles doesn't get enough credit for being an incredibly consistent player. Starting in 1970 when he played for the Cleveland Indians until 1986 when he played for the San Diego Padres, Nettles had 15 or more homers every season for 17 straight seasons. That is a remarkable level of consistent production that very few players in MLB history can match, and even fewer 3rd basemen.

Also are the Yankees no longer awarding monuments to any Yankees players? How do the Yankees determine if any more players will get a monument? Should Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter, or others get a monument?

Miller Huggins, who as Yankees manager won 3 world championships and 6 pennants in the 1920s has a Monument in Yankee Stadium. Although Huggins' Yankees managerial career record was fantastic, Casey Stengel, as Yankees manager, had a much more

successful career than Miller Huggins. Stengel, in his 12 years as Yankees manager, won 7 world championships and 10 pennants, which is the greatest period of success in MLB managerial history. Stengel's Yankees won a record 5 straight world championships, and yet, Stengel doesn't have a monument in Yankee Stadium. 

It would seem that Stengel should have a monument in Monument Park.

George Steinbrenner is in Monument Park as his Yankees during his nearly 38 years of ownership won 7 World Series and 11 pennants. The Yankees had the best record in the league in 1994 when the rest of the season and post season was cancelled, or the Yankees may very well have added another pennant and World Series to Steinbrenner's accomplishments. Steinbrenner's Yankees were very successful during his ownership.

Dan Topping and Del Webb, owned the Yankees for a 20- year period starting in 1945. During this period, the Yankees starting in 1947 won an incredible 10 World Series and 15 pennants. As successful as George Steinbrenner's Yankees were, Topping and Webb's Yankees far surpassed the Steinbrenner Yankees as far as winning championships.

If Steinbrenner is in Monument Park, Topping and Webb, who won more world championships and pennants than Steinbrenner, should also be in Monument Park.

Do the Yankees give any credit whatsoever to Topping and Webb? Are there any photographs or other forms of recognition inside Yankees Stadium to acknowledge the tremendous success of Topping and Webb, by far the most successful owners in MLB history?

Roy White, as pointed out in a recent SSTN article should also be in Monument Park. Roy White was very underrated throughout his entire career. When he came up in the 1960s, the Yankees dynasty was over. Bobby Murcer, a teammate of Roy White, was the fan favorite for many fans, in my opinion, because he was more of a home run hitter than Roy White, and Murcer played centerfield, a much more glamorous position than left field that White played. Also, Murcer was compared to Mickey Mantle, as both had power, played centerfield in their careers, both born in Oklahoma.

When the Yankees returned to dominance winning 3 straight pennants and 2 straight world championships starting in 1976, White again was overshadowed by more dynamic personalities such as Billy Martin, Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson, and George Steinbrenner. White, although he never had those spectacular seasons, such as an MVP, batting title, etc., was a steady and excellent all-around player, who had some power, had a good batting average, could steal bases, draw walks, and was a good defensive outfielder. He came through with many clutch hits both during the season and in the post season. He was a big contributor to that Yankees era of dominance.

White had 1,803 hits, 300 doubles, 160 homers, a .271 batting average, 233 stolen bases and a 121 OPS+, according to Baseball Reference, and White played most of his career in an era in which pitchers dominated ( 1960s-early 1970s).

White didn't have comparisons to past Yankees greats. 

The players I mentioned, plus more players that I didn't mention should be added to Monument Park.